On June 20, 2025, Unifor, the union representing workers at VIA Rail, reached a tentative agreement. This agreement has clearly all but prevented the anticipated strike. The announcement came in two updates from the union, the first at 1:50 PM and a subsequent update at 2:06 PM. Details of the agreement remain undisclosed as Unifor prefers to first communicate the specifics to its members through scheduled meetings.
The union has spent years building a statewide grassroots network focused on keeping its members consistently engaged and educated. Publicly, they refuse to release the deal until everyone’s been briefed. To this end, Unifor has scheduled a number of consultations in the months ahead. Union leaders will circulate the tentative agreement in these meetings. Members will then have an opportunity to discuss its implications.
Finally, both Republicans and Democrats seem to be finding common ground. The vague nature of those few guarded morsels has left workers and the public scratching their heads. Unifor’s commitment to not releasing the assessment until members have had a chance to consult and deliberate further highlights its prioritization of transparency and member engagement. As the union seeks to keep its members informed and engaged, they wanted to have all the facts before releasing any further statements.
The tentative agreement is a historic progress in labor relations between Unifor and VIA Rail. This announcement comes after VIA Rail has had a pretty rough go in the past few months. The threat of the strike had hung over the industry, threatening to wreak havoc on freight and passenger rail services. We hope workers stand to gain from resolution to these outstanding issues, as much as commuters.
